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Fat cells do more than just store energy, according to emerging research.(Image credit: Ed Reschke via Getty Images)ShareShare by:
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Scientists have observed unique forms of fat cells inside the human body, and by figuring out their functions, they determined that these cells might contribute to obesity.
The investigation, released Jan. 24 in the journal Nature Genetics, could hypothetically pave the way for novel interventions to alleviate secondary impacts of obesity, such as inflammation or insulin unresponsiveness, the scientists expressed.
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The discoveries imply that fat cells “are more varied and intricate than previously appreciated,” Daniel Berry, a professor of nutritional sciences at Cornell University who was not involved in the study, communicated to Live Science via email.
Throughout the last few decades, investigation has revealed that adipose tissue achieves much more than merely hold excess energy in the body. As an illustration, fat cells, alternatively recognized as adipocytes, and immune cells collaborate to interact with the brain, muscles, and liver. This, accordingly, aids in modulating appetite, metabolism, and body mass, along with participating in relevant ailments.
“If something goes awry there,” within the fatty tissue, “it influences other areas of the body,” Yeger-Lotem stated.
Not all fat is identical
Researchers have also understood for a long duration that having too much fat is associated with a health conditions risk. However, among the numerous characteristics of obesity that have kept scientists perplexed is that not all fat possesses the same attributes.
Visceral fat — fat cells positioned in the abdomen adjacent to the internal organs — has a stronger correlation with the possibility of various health concerns compared to fat beneath the skin, referred to as subcutaneous fat. As an example, having an excess of visceral fat is associated with an increased chance of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, insulin resistance, and hepatic disease. Research additionally indicates visceral fat has greater “proinflammatory” characteristics than subcutaneous fat, which may potentially play a role in the poor health associated with obesity.
To gain a deeper awareness of the events transpiring inside fat tissues, Yeger-Lotem and her fellow researchers mapped a “cell atlas” of adipocytes as part of the Human Cell Atlas, a worldwide initiative intended to map every cell within the human body.
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The scientists constructed this diagram utilizing single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA seq), which quantifies which genes have activity and to what degree via examining RNA, a molecular relative of DNA. RNA molecules serve as blueprints for proteins, transmitting instructions from the DNA located in the cell’s nucleus out to its protein-construction locations. By assessing RNA in the nuclei of cells taken from fat tissue, the team acquired insights as to the activities of each cell inside the tissue.
Yeger-Lotem and her associates assessed samples of subcutaneous and visceral fat extracted from 15 individuals while undergoing elective abdominal surgical procedures. A majority of adipocytes were fairly “classical” — signifying storing excess energy constituted their central role. But a small fraction of the fat cells were “non-classical,” as their RNA suggested they carried out roles not normally connected with fat cells.
Within these cells were “angiogenic adipocytes,” which conveyed proteins typically employed to encourage blood vessel creation; “immune-related adipocytes,” which generate proteins pertinent to immune cell operations; along with “extracellular matrix adipocytes,” which are associated with scaffold proteins that assist in supporting cells’ structures. These cell subtypes, discovered in both visceral and subcutaneous fat, were additionally verified via microscopy.
This “state-of-the-art application” of snRNA seq implies these cells could participate in “remodeling” fat tissues, according to Niklas Mejhert, an endocrinology professor from the Karolinska Institute based in Sweden, who had no participation in the investigation, conveyed via email to Live Science. Remodeling in this case pertains to the manner in which fat tissues evolve in response to shifts in mass or metabolic variations. “Healthy” remodeling is likely to support metabolic equilibrium, but if dysregulated, it may trigger inflammation and other contributors to deteriorated well-being pertaining to obesity, as Mejhert suggested.
The investigation also identified variances within the newly defined cell classes contingent on the tissue that they were taken from. Unconventional adipocytes originating from visceral fat appeared more inclined to interact with the immune system as opposed to the ones identified in skin fat, according to Yeger-Lotem. This connection with immune cells suggests that the cell subtypes could potentially engage in setting off visceral fat’s proinflammatory characteristics, possibly illuminating the reason why belly fat is worse for one’s health.
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The data hinted that the fat-tissue donors exhibiting greater insulin resistance were inclined to possess a higher concentration of these unusual cells in visceral fat compared to individuals exhibiting lower insulin resistance. Nevertheless, Mejhert mentioned that the authors did not demonstrate causality, so it remains unclear whether these cells could potentially generate insulin resistance by any means. Determining this will require further research.
If these fat subtypes can be linked to human ailment, comprehending their functionality could “aid us in combating inflammatory processes,” stated Yeger-Lotem. That may perhaps assist physicians in predicting the chances of insulin resistance among obese individuals, on the assumption that all aspects are tied together, she included.
Berry indicated caution, noting that the investigation implemented a comparatively reduced sample size, and at this point, it solely infers rather than categorically verifies that the fat cells possess these uncommon roles. Nonetheless, “these understandings emphasize the significance of grasping fat depots’ exclusive behaviors to formulate targeted treatments for obesity and other correlated ailments,” he explained.
Disclaimer
This article serves only for informational purposes and is not designed to provide medical advice.
Marianne GuenotLive Science Contributor
Marianne functions as a freelance science journalist specializing in topics such as health, space explorations, and technology-related subjects. She is particularly fond of writing regarding topics such as obesity, neurology-related disorders, along with infectious diseases, although she also likes diving deeply into the business side concerning science and technology. Marianne previously functioned as a news editor operating at both The Lancet and Nature Medicine, aside from holding a position as the U.K. science reporter for Business Insider. Before transitioning towards a career involving writing, Marianne functioned as a scientist conducting study concerning how the body confronts infectious illnesses originating from malaria parasites together with gut bacteria.
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